Crossfit Owners Push the Mitten

It’s safe to say that for CrossFit coaches and gym owners Anne Witherill and Sara Troutman, fitness is a way of life. Bringing a new standard to gym management, these women know
the importance of healthy living.

With a philosophy to improve overall health, the two partners believe in working hard while having fun with their fellow CrossFit community. Witherill and Troutman are level-one trainers, USA weightlifting coaches and CrossFit mobility coaches. Mid-Mitten CrossFit’s doors opened in November 2013, and since then they have taken delight in the community, family-style atmosphere.

“CrossFit is really a community, so we like to build a positive, hard-working environment. Our philosophy behind it is we want you to do this because we want you to improve your health and feel better about yourself,” said Troutman, CrossFit coach and co-owner.

The owners explained that they currently have three women expecting; two recently had babies and one is a year old with another on the way. One of them can usually be found coaching a workout with one of the trainee’s babies strapped around her, and that she loves it.

The co-owners love that they have created more than a community: Mid-Mitten CrossFit is a family. “We go to baseball games together, watch each other’s animals, babysit each other’s kids,” Witherill explained.

“Anne pushes people to do the best they can. She pushes people and sees things in them that they don’t see themselves. She has this great belief that anyone can do anything as long as they put their mind to it,” Troutman said.

Both Sara and Anne have a passion for health and fitness. “Sara is so strong and gets stronger all the time. Sometimes I wish I had her drive to do more,” Witherill said.

With the belief to have fun and work hard, both trainers know that everyone can do CrossFit, but CrossFit is not for everyone. CrossFit is a high-intensity fitness program incorporating elements from several sports and exercises. Based on functional movements, these movements reflect aspects of gymnastics, weightlifting, running, rowing and more. No workout is ever the same with CrossFit.

When Witherill and Troutman started working out with CrossFit, they took to their garage with a group of friends. A fellow workout friend, who just so happened to be a lawyer, encouraged them and helped to write a business plan.

The couple’s backgrounds make them perfect partners for a CrossFit gym. Witherill has extensive training and experience in (Olympic style) weightlifting and gymnastics. Troutman has a long-standing background in endurance sports. Fitness and being active is an outlet for these health enthusiasts. “It isn’t about how you look. It’s about how you feel,” Witherill explained.

Mid-Mitten CrossFit has four coaches that train with around 13 people on any given day. The gym is located in a warehouse at 701 E. South St., Suite 02, with 12 p.m. workouts Monday through Friday. The gym is also open Monday through Friday from 6-7 a.m. and 5-8 p.m., with weekend hours for Saturday ranging from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sunday from 2-4 p.m.